Strachan Identifies Specifically What’s Wrong At Newcastle

Every pundit and manager around these days seem to be offering their opinion on Newcastle United – who along with Aston Villa will become two of the biggest clubs relegated from the Premier League in a number of years.

We have to remember that Villa were founded way back in 1874 and were the European Champions in 1982 and went on to also win the European Super Cup that year.

They won the League One Title 7 times, the FA Cup 7 times and the League Cup 5 times.

Gordon Strachan – former Coventry and Southampton manager
Scotland manager Gordon Strachan is the latest pundit to offer his opinion on why Rafa Benitez is having so much trouble in turning Newcastle around getting just one point in his first four games in charge and Newcastle have conceded 8 goals in the process.

The last time we had a clean sheet was on February 6th when we hammered West Brom 1-0 at home.

This is what Gordon said yesterday:

“Recruitment is a big thing. The stability round about the club is a huge thing. You’ve probably got about four or five different groups of players who’ve been bought by different managers or people at the top.”

“It’s a problem for the manager and you can’t go in there and think ‘I’m going to do this and that’, because then you go ‘hmm, this is going to take longer than I thought’ and he’s not got time that’s the problem.”

While Gordon may be right we also remember in the last two seasons that Crystal Palace were saved first of all be Tony Pulis two seasons ago and then last season by Alan Pardew when those managers came in and soon had Palace winning games.

We also remember last season how Nigel Pearson had seven wins and one draw in their last nine games to save Leicester City who are now 7 points clear at the top of the Premier League with just five games to go.

And we remember when Roy Hodgson saved Fulham back in 2008 when they has just 24 points from 33 games but then won four of their last five games to beat the drop by goal difference above Reading on 36 points.

So there have been times when some sensational escapes have been made in the Premier League.

With six games to go that’s still possible for Newcastle but not if we play like wimps like we did on Saturday,

I’d say that the biggest problem is the number of players we have for whom relegation is not a consequence.

If we go down, they move on to another team playing in the top league of wherever. Wijnaldum already has a bunch of offers and I doubt we’ll have any problem selling Sissoko, De Jong etc…

For there to be any fight in this team, we need players to commit to a season if the Championship if the screw up. Otherwise they just don’t turn up on the day and we go down without them.

The only relegation clauses we should be putting in contracts is that players will have to take a pay cut if they’re part of the team that takes into the Championship. They shouldn’t be allowed to move on to plum jobs in Serie A or Bundesliga or whatever. They don’t deserve to.

Consequence is a great motivator. We need to be getting that into players’ heads from the moment they sign.

In honor of two dedicated Newcastle fans, who lost their lives supporting Newcastle United.

Their passenger jet was shot down over Ukraine on Thursday July 17th, 2014 by rebels, as they were traveling to support the team in New Zealand.

We will never forget them.

Health Update - 4 Aug, 2016

The good news last week was that after more blood tests my PSA count is still undetectable

This means the prostate cancer is still under control, and there is no trace of it in the body.

Now to be even more vigilant so I can see the Rafa Benitez project come to its fruition over the next few years - wouldn't want to miss that.

Howay The Lads!!>

Ed Harrison

What Is A Football Club?

What is a club in any case?

Not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it.

It’s not the television contracts, get-out clauses, marketing departments or executive boxes.

It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city.

It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.